Ski Gondolas Become Works of Art at the Verbier Mountain Climbers Exhibition

From the slopes to the auction house.

If you loved bouncy ball vending machines as a kid, you have reason to be excited. The Verbier Mountain Climbers Exhibition at Design Miami Basel 2013 was conceived around the theme of "revisiting a Swiss icon" and features works that reimagine ski gondolas as objects turned into art, including a giant vending machine that dispenses bouncy rubber balls. The particular piece was by designer Baker Wardlaw, and retains much of the original shape of the gondola while completely reimaginging its purpose and design.

The traveling exhibition, which premiered in Basel in June, was created by three young entrepreneurs from Geneva, Inès Flammarion, Nicolas Bernheim and Albert Schrurs, who invited seven top Swiss designers to create works using ski gondolas retrieved from Verbier. After they are displayed in Verbier throughout the summer, then the Genève Aéroport in the fall, the gondolas will be auctioned by Christie's to benefit the Make-A-Wish foundation of Switzerland. Other designs seen in the series include a 4-seated rocking chair and a transformed table.

[via Designboom]

Latest in Style